Bush Honorees' Impacts Can't Be Missed
June 24, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Detroit’s Vic Michaels, Novi’s Brian Gordon, Bronson’s Jean LaClair and Portland’s Kevin Veale all have impacted high school students as teachers, coaches and administrators over decades in their respectively communities. To honor their often unsung work in creating athletic opportunities, all four have been named recipients of the MHSAA’s Allen W. Bush Award for 2019.
Al Bush served as executive director of the MHSAA for 10 years. The award honors individuals for past and continuing service to prep athletics as a coach, administrator, official, trainer, doctor or member of the media. The award was developed to bring recognition to men and women who are giving and serving without a lot of attention. This is the 28th year of the award, with selections made by the MHSAA's Representative Council.
“The Bush Award was created to recognize the frequent behind-the-scenes efforts that go into creating worthwhile experiences for Michigan high school athletes. But it’s impossible to not see the impacts this year’s honorees have made in their communities,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We are pleased to honor them and celebrate their work in promoting educational athletics and all of its benefits.”
Michaels, who has served as director of the Detroit Catholic High School League since 2003, is the longest-serving director in Catholic League history and one of only seven directors since its formation in 1926. He came to the Archdiocese of Detroit league office as associate director in 1995 after serving as athletic director, assistant principal, teacher and coach at Center Line St. Clement since 1978. He coached St. Clement’s boys basketball varsity from 1978-95 and the girls varsity from 1980-85 and earned Coach of the Year recognition leading both programs.
As director of the Catholic League, Michaels oversees all aspects of competition for 27 schools across 30 sports, in addition to the Catholic Schools Office of Health, Athletics, Physical Education and Safety. While his local imprint is large, he provides expertise at the statewide level as well. Michaels has represented non-public schools on the MHSAA Representative Council since 2003 and serves as the Council’s secretary-treasurer and as part of its Executive Committee. He served as president of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) in 2008 and also has held roles of vice president, secretary and board member. He’s served as coordinator for the Southeast Michigan Leagues Advisory Council (SEMLAC) and on various MHSAA sport and officials selection committees.
Michaels was named statewide Athletic Director of the Year by the MIAAA and received a regional award from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) in 2010 after previously being chosen for MIAAA regional recognition in 2001. While at St. Clement, Michaels was named Catholic League Athletic Director of the Year in 1988 and inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame in 1990. Michaels graduated from Detroit St. Ambrose High School, then attended Detroit Institute of Technology and finished his bachelor’s degree at University of Detroit Mercy. He earned his certified athletic administrator (CAA) designation from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
“Vic Michaels is as good a leader as we have in high school sports in our state,” Uyl said. “While he represents the private and parochial schools on the Representative Council, he works with everybody and sees the big picture – but also can get to a granular level with our rules, which he knows inside and out. He is one of the most insightful voices in Michigan educational athletics.”
Gordon is completing his third decade in education, have begun as a physical education and health teacher for Royal Oak Schools in 1990. He moved into the athletic director/assistant principal role in 2010 and then became director of athletic and physical education at Novi High School in 2012. He’s taught at the elementary and middle school levels, and supervised physical education and served as a health advisory chairperson at the district level. Including a season while still a college student, he also has coached baseball, football, basketball and track & field from the junior high to varsity levels, including a stint as Royal Oak Kimball and Royal Oak High varsity baseball coach from 1995-2010. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011.
At Novi, Gordon oversees the athletic program for more than 1,700 students in grades 7-12, plus more than 140 coaches. He has made Novi a home for playoff events, hosting more than 150 league and MHSAA tournament competitions at all levels including Boys Tennis and Girls Lacrosse Finals this spring and the 115-team Oakland County Track Meet multiple times. Under his leadership, Novi has hosted multiple levels of the MHSAA Coaches Advancement Program (CAP), and he has served on a variety of sport, officials and site selection committees for the Association in addition to local committee work. He also is a major promoter of Special Olympics Unified Sports in his community and league, hosting his conference’s first basketball tournament this past winter.
Gordon was named Oakland County Athletic Director of the Year for this school year by the Oakland County Athletic Directors Association, and he served as the OCADA president in 2014-15 and on its board from 2010-16. He’s served as vice president of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association and president of the Kensington Conference since 2012. Gordon has been a member of the MIAAA since 2008 and NIAAA since 2010, and was named a Regional Athletic Director of the Year by the MIAAA in 2018. He graduated from Clawson High School and earned his bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University and master’s in sports administration and school leadership from Wayne State University. He also has achieved CAA status.
“Brian Gordon is one of the most positive people I’ve met in athletics,” Uyl said. “From his days coaching in Royal Oak to his move into an athletic director role, he’s always championed kids and school sports. He always sees what we do as a glass half full – and his willingness to host absolutely anything shows his continuing commitment to this work.”
LaClair is one of the most successful volleyball coaches in Michigan high school history, ranking fifth all-time for wins with a record of 1,180-361-96 at Midland Dow, Pinconning and most recently Bronson. She took over the Vikings’ program in the fall of 2000 and has led Bronson to five MHSAA championships, with its Division 3 title this past fall the varsity team’s fourth straight. She also led Pinconning to a Class B runner-up finish in 1997-98. LaClair has received various coaching honors and in 2017 was a finalist for the NHSACA’s national volleyball Coach of the Year award.
While best-known for her achievements on court, LaClair has served 24 years as a highly-respected athletic administrator and assistant principal at Bronson High School. She received the MHSAA Women In Sports Leadership Award in 2015 and previously had spoken at WISL conferences in 2006 and 2008. She has hosted a variety of MHSAA tournament events in addition to sitting on a number of MHSAA and MIAAA committees. She also has instructed at MHSAA CAP sessions and been a registered game official for 18 years. LaClair received the George Lovich State Award of Merit this year for her leadership and standing within the MIAAA and NIAAA. She also was named a Regional Athletic Director of the Year by the MIAAA in 2009.
In addition to the national coaching recognition mentioned above, LaClair was inducted into the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and has served as MIVCA’s president, vice president and on its board. She also was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017. LaClair is a graduate of Midland Dow High School and Saginaw Valley State University, and earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Central Michigan University. She has earned the Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) designation.
“As an athletic director, Jean is incredibly consistent,” Uyl said. “Her leadership as an athletic director is so effective because she knows what matters in school sports and she treats all programs the same, including the volleyball program. That isn’t always easy when an athletic director also is a coach, and that consistency is really impressive.”
Veale is completing his 19th year as Portland Public Schools athletic director after previously teaching and serving as the girls track & field coach and as a football assistant at the high school. He has initiated a variety of efforts during his two decades in the district, founding the high school’s coaches association, captains’ club and athletic Hall of Fame among sports-related endeavors. He also has served as a volunteer coach for local recreation teams and given his time to assist in various community events. But his influence has stretched as well to league, regional and statewide levels.
Veale has served in leadership roles in multiple leagues over his tenure, as executive secretary for the Ingham County League in 2001-02 and then president of the Capital Area Activities Conference in 2008-09. He’s hosted at Portland more than 100 MHSAA postseason events from the District-Quarterfinal levels, while also serving on multiple MHSAA committees including assisting in selection of MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award winners. He served as membership committee chairperson for the MIAAA in 2005-06 and has been part of its scholarship committee since 2008.
Veale graduated from Iron Mountain High School and earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Central Michigan University, the latter in athletic administration. He also has achieved CAA designation and was named an MIAAA Regional Athletic Director of the Year in 2010.
“Kevin has really become the face of Portland Raiders athletics after 19 years in that community,” Uyl said. “He brings a great deal of positivity and high energy to the job every day. His teams have had great success, and he’s another administrator who sees all programs being equally important.”
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.
2025 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class B
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 11, 2025
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected nine student-athletes from Class B member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 36th year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
The 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 15 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class B Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Madelynn Kreider, Kingsford; Hannah Lee, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Grace McDowell, Whitehall; Addison Seemann, Freeland; Eleana Zhuang, Ann Arbor Greenhills; Oliver Costello, Haslett; Ryan Goodrich, Whitehall; Brayden Bryan Lape, Grass Lake; and Alan Mrva, Corunna.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class B Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Madelynn Kreider, Kingsford
Played four years of varsity volleyball and will compete in her third of track & field this spring; also played varsity basketball and softball as a freshman. Earned all-state honors her final two seasons of volleyball including making the Division 2 first team this past fall, and served as team captain her final two years. Ran on two Finals-placing track relays and also served as captain for that team. Ranked first in her graduating class academically and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Serving fourth year on student council and as vice president. Also participating in second years of Key Club and as student ambassador for her school, and serving as the social media coordinator in her fourth year with Fellowship for Christian Athletes. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study kinesiology and exercise science.
Essay Quote: “(Sportsmanship) challenges us to choose integrity, even when the stakes are high, and to see every opportunity as a gift from God. Volleyball may have taught me how to hit and set, but sportsmanship taught me how to handle life’s victories and defeats with love and grace. That, above all, is what I will carry with me forever.”
Hannah Lee, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Played four seasons of varsity golf, helping team to MHSAA Finals all four years and posting top-13 individual finishes at last two championship tournaments. Earned all-state and academic all-state recognition. Participating in fourth year of forensics and also fourth year coaching middle school team; reached state finals as competitor in multiple events. Participating in third year as part of University of Michigan Youth Chamber Singers and also played two years as part of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles. Participating in fourth year of Greenhills Gryphon Sports Live broadcasting club and as president, and participating in fourth year of United Congressional Award Club and as board member. Earned school’s notable research award for work with University of Michigan’s Obstetrics & Gynecology department. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study biology and psychology with potentially a minor in business.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship in golf is about more than making the right call or showing respect in the moment; it’s about creating a lasting impact on the game, players, and community. It fosters an environment of mutual respect, where competitors aim to elevate each other rather than just defeat one another. Golf teaches that sportsmanship is a mindset, lasting far beyond the final putt.”
Grace McDowell, Whitehall
Played four seasons of varsity golf, is playing her second of varsity basketball and will play her fourth of varsity tennis this spring. Reached MHSAA Finals all four seasons in golf and as a freshman in tennis, and served as captain of both teams. Earned all-state recognition in golf, all-league in that sport and tennis and also all-state academic in tennis. Serving fourth year as student council class president and participating for second year on Michigan Department of Education Student Advisory Council. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and third as part of West Michigan OsteoScholars. Contributing to youth sports as part of No More Sidelines and First Tee programs and as a youth basketball referee. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to major in pre-medical studies.
Essay Quote: My love for the game and internal drive have enabled me to embrace my competitive spirit. This spirit is paramount to educational athletics; the desire to win can overshadow sportsmanship. Real victories come not from the score but from the character we build as we compete. Being a good sport is showing respect, maintaining humility in victory, and offering support in defeat.”
Addison Seemann, Freeland
Played four seasons of varsity volleyball, is playing her fourth of varsity basketball, and also has competed in track & field throughout high school. Earned all-region honors in volleyball and basketball and also all-state recognition in the latter, and earned all-state as part of two track relays. Served as captain of volleyball and basketball teams, and earned academic all-state in basketball as well. Served three years as student council class president and this year as executive president. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth on executive council of Be The Change group. Participated in Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute as a junior and was a three-time attendee of Midland Area Youth Impact Partnership. Serving fourth year as youth basketball referee. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study civil engineering.
Essay Quote: “From a young age, if players feel supported while making mistakes and taking risks, they grow not only as athletes, but as people too. By instilling values of teamwork, compassion, and respect at young ages, these traits are carried on with athletes throughout their lives. A positive environment in sports contributes to a lifelong love for personal development and healthy competition.”
Eleana Zhuang, Ann Arbor Greenhills
Played two years of varsity volleyball, playing second of varsity basketball and will compete in third of varsity track & field this spring. Qualified for MHSAA Finals as part of track relay as a junior and helped that team to multiple league championships. Served as basketball captain and will serve as track captain this upcoming season. Earned all-academic in volleyball. Named AP Scholar with Honor. Serving as senior class secretary and treasurer and East Asian Pacific American Community leader. Participating in third year with Student Service Leaders group and earned National Community Service Ambassador Awards the last two years. Serving second year on Canton Public Library’s Teen Leadership Council. Earned multiple art awards including silver key in Southeast Michigan & Thumb Scholastic Art Awards competition. Will attend University of Michigan and study movement science in school of kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “Our passion for sports drives us, but our compassion for each other makes educational athletics an unforgettable environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and supported. … As athletes, we’re constantly faced with the choice between passion and compassion. In terms of sportsmanship, compassion always comes first. When we lead with compassion, we grow into individuals who uplift those around us, a lesson essential beyond sports. That’s what makes athletics unforgettable.”
Oliver Costello, Haslett
Played four seasons of varsity tennis, is competing in fourth on swimming & diving team and intends to play varsity lacrosse this spring; also played junior varsity baseball as a freshman. Earned all-conference and all-area recognition in swimming and earned all-conference recognition in tennis in helping that team reach MHSAA Finals all four seasons and win Regional title as a junior. Earned all-academic honors in both sports and served as team captain of both teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president. Participated in marching band and drumline, and choir, throughout high school, earning Division 1 state ratings in both. Founded and served as president of Intro to Business and Engineering Sciences clubs. Served as youth swim and tennis coach. Will attend University of Michigan and study chemical engineering.
Essay Quote: “I realize there will always be others ahead of me to chase. When we both reach the wall, I can take pride in showing the sportsmanship I’ve developed and in being an example for another young swimmer. No matter how close the race, outside of the pool, we all share the same goal: improvement.”
Ryan Goodrich, Whitehall
Played four years of varsity football and competed in varsity wrestling and baseball throughout his first three years of high school, but has been unable to wrestle this winter because of an injury and is not expecting to be able to play this spring. Reached MHSAA Finals twice in wrestling and placed once, and earned all-conference and academic all-conference in all three sports. Also earned academic all-state in wrestling and baseball. Served as football and wrestling team captain. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president, and participating in third year of Business Professionals of America and as president. Made BPA state and national finals. Serving second year as Link Crew leader and participating in third year with school’s Hope Squad chapter and first as part of student board for First Priority group. Will attend University of Pennsylvania to study philosophy, politics and economics.
Essay Quote: “Fixating on wins can make the fall from the top unbearable, and being consumed by the losses turns small victories into meaningless moments. That’s where sportsmanship comes in. While at face value it can be respecting the referee or playing fair, sportsmanship is truly reflected in how we handle both triumph and failure. That, I believe, is the greatest lesson from sports.”
Brayden Bryan Lape, Grass Lake
Played four seasons of varsity football, is playing his fourth of varsity basketball and will play his fourth of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-state honors in basketball and football and academic all-state honors in all three sports. Also earned all-conference in all three sports and set several school football records. Served as four-year team captain in all three sports. Participated all four years in National Honor Society and served all four years on student council – and fulfilled these duties while earning national acclaim as a vocalist, recording original music and finishing fifth on NBC’s “The Voice” Season 22. Will attend Northwood University and study accounting.
Essay Quote: “It was during this time (while injured and unable to play) that I truly was able to understand the power of sportsmanship. It is more than just shaking hands after a game or congratulating an opponent. Those are important and necessary gestures, but true sportsmanship involves respecting the game, respecting the people involved, and respecting yourself. Realizing this helped me become a better version of myself. I realized it’s about embracing triumph and defeat with grace and humility.”
Alan Mrva, Corunna
Played four seasons of varsity football and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state honors in football and qualified for MHSAA Finals in track & field. Served as team captain multiple seasons for both. Participating in second years of National Honor Society and as part of Corunna Cavalier Ambassadors. Participated in Future Farmers of America throughout high school serving in various leadership roles at the chapter, regional and state levels. Qualified for FFA state competition and was two-time gold-level recipient for skills contest. Serving third year as junior advisor on Shiawassee County Fair Board. Participated in Shiawassee Scholars program throughout high school. Will attend either Michigan State University or Purdue University and study agricultural engineering.
Essay Quote: “Just as in the classroom, sports help us learn through experience. … (That) I learned to take ownership of my actions and respect those around me even when I am at my lowest goes beyond sports. I have used my stance and realized that every interaction I have with another person leaves an impact on their lives. I hope I can build a legacy that future generations of Corunna Cavaliers are inspired by so that one day they use what I have done and become better versions of themselves.”
Other Class B girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Madison Cole, Battle Creek Pennfield; Lauren Sundquist, Gladstone; Sierra Grooters, Hudsonville Unity Christian; Nadia Grierson, Ludington; Anna Catherine Boggs, Monroe Jefferson; Marlee Plaxco, Negaunee; Hailey Dodd, Parma Western; Alaina Hanson, Reed City; Alexandrea Komarowski, St Clair; Scarlet Maison, Standish-Sterling; and Cami Kraai, Whitehall .
Other Class B boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Maxwell Volk, Chesaning; Isaak Rubley, Dundee; Brayden Joslin, Durand; Corbin Allen, Grayling; Jayse Peterson, Hastings; Caden VanHuis, Holland Christian; Gavin J. Trevillian, Kingsford; Nicholas Caldwell, North Branch; Benjamin Kelenske, Olivet; Blair Scott, Olivet; Owen Feldpausch, Owosso; and Brady Tate, Whitehall.
The Class C and D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 4, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 18.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why it is known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services – life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more – protecting nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.